Latest news with #Woolpert
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Woolpert Named to $250M NOAA Contract Supporting National Shoreline Mapping Efforts
The firm will provide a range of geospatial services to support nautical charts, maritime navigation, coastal resource management, and the definition of territorial boundaries. DAYTON, Ohio, June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Woolpert has been selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide shoreline mapping services under a $250 million, multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract supporting the National Geodetic Survey and its Coastal Mapping Program. Surveying approximately 95,000 miles of United States coastline, the Coastal Mapping Program's mission is to produce a seamless, digital database of accurate and consistent national shoreline data to be used for nautical charting, maritime navigation, coastal resource management, and defining territorial boundaries. Under this contract, Woolpert will deliver a range of geospatial services, including: 'The work being done under this contract is critical to ensuring the accuracy of U.S. shoreline data, which supports everything from safe navigation to disaster response,' Woolpert Government Solutions Market Director Jeff Lovin said. 'We're proud to continue our longstanding partnership with NOAA and the National Geodetic Survey and contribute to this vital work that safeguards coastal communities and supports national resilience.' The contract is underway. About Woolpert Woolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, and geospatial (AEG) firm with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private, and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is a Global Top 100 Geospatial Company, a Top 50 ENR Global Design firm, and has earned eight Great Place to Work certifications. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been America's fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. Woolpert has nearly 3,000 employees and more than 75 offices on five continents. For more, visit Media Contact Lynn Rossi 312-837-2017 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Woolpert
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘No' side holds slight lead in Wichita school bond vote; some ballots still to be counted
Voters appeared to reject a $450 million bond issue for Wichita Public Schools on Tuesday, but the race was too close to call on election night. Unofficial results showed the Vote Yes side trailed by 228 votes, or less than 1 percent of the vote. At least 395 votes from one precinct had not been reported as of 11 p.m., according to an Eagle analysis of the election office's turnout numbers. An unknown number of provisional and late-arriving mail-in ballots could also affect the outcome. The Wichita school district planned to use the bond money to rebuild seven elementary and middle schools, close four elementary schools, convert two elementary schools to K-8 buildings and consolidate alternative school programs, among a number of other projects. Voters who opposed the plan cited concerns about rising property taxes along with distrust in the district and disapproval of the plan. 'They just want a blank check,' Robert Haines, who voted no, told an Eagle reporter. 'I voted no because the things that they're saying about needing new buildings, I don't believe,' said Cherie Kessler, a northwest Wichita voter. A loss would be a major setback for Kansas' largest school district, which had banked on winning the election. It would also deal a financial blow to the school district, which was criticized during the campaign for what the Vote No campaign viewed as wasteful spending. Wichita Public Schools spent $113,000 to hold a special election in February instead of during the election in November. It also paid an Ohio-based consultant, Woolpert, $312,000 to manage an educational campaign about the bond election. Bradley Dyer Jr., chair of the Yes for Wichita Kids campaign, stopped short of conceding after what appeared to be the final results of the night. 'There are provisional ballots that are out to be counted, but judging from the margins, I don't know that the results will be different,' Dyer said. 'But I tend to be optimistic, so we'll just see what happens and not completely call it final. But . . . the writing is on the wall about the results tonight.' The Vote No campaign said it's confident in its victory, even with several thousand mail-in ballots yet to be returned to the election office. State law allows those ballots to be counted up to three days after Election Day, if postmarked by Tuesday. 'It's always a possibility, but I feel pretty secure being able to say that I think we've declared victory at this point,' Davis said. It was a low-turnout affair, with just over 13% of the district's 200,333 registered voters participating in the February special election with a single question on the ballot. Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld previously told The Eagle that low turnout was not a concern 'At the end of the day, I think there were a lot of people who voted no in this election, ultimately, because they don't want any bond at this time,' Davis said. 'They're really struggling, they're really hurting, and they're feeling the squeeze on property taxes, and they're ready for a break.' Last week, the Sedgwick County appraiser's office said property valuations would go up for most property owners by 9% this year — casting doubt on the school district's campaign to continue its current bond mill levy. It billed the bond issue as 'zero rate change' because it sought to continue a 7.5-mill levy for the new bond issue after it pays off an earlier bond issue in 2028. Without the new bond issue, the tax rate will go down. 'Asking voters for permission to spend money is always difficult, and current voter anxiety over the cost of living made USD 259's effort even harder,' Wichita State political science professor Neal Allen said. The district said it plans to hold a news conference Wednesday morning. The Vote Yes campaign hinted Tuesday night that the school district may ask for another bond election — possibly with a smaller amount. 'I don't know if the February time frame matters, yes or no,' Dyer said. 'I think that's one of the things when we go back to the drawing board that we're going to have to assess. . . . Judging by what some other districts have done, maybe that is something that we need to look at — time of the year.' This is not the only school bond issue in the state of Kansas that hasn't passed in recent years. Voters in the Kansas City Kansas School District rejected a $480 million bond issue in early 2024. The district then downsized its plans to a $180 million bond issue, which passed several months later. Davis, with the Vote No campaign, said he does not want that to be the case in Wichita. 'I want to send a hopefully unmistakable message that we shouldn't be putting a bond measure on the ballot again,' he said. 'What I'm hoping we can do is, they can go back to the drawing board, reworking the table, using the money that they already have, and being more up front about … the budget that they do have and where that money is going to go.' If the bond issue fails and the district decides to not move forward with another vote, or it is rejected again, it's unclear what could happen to several of the projects in the district's facility master plan. The district has said even if the bond issue doesn't pass, it will still shutter L'Ouverture, OK, Pleasant Valley and Woodland elementary schools. Those students would be moved to newer, larger schools if the bond issue passed. The district has said recently it would still move those students to other schools, but spread them out among more existing schools to keep class sizes down. Many questions still remain about other capital projects that are planned as part of the district's facility master plan. 'Because they were well funded and they were well organized, their message got out there. They were loud and they got out there,' Dyer said. 'But the message that I want people to understand is that the district really does have real needs. They really do have aging facilities. There really are challenges with spacing and the ability to properly staff these buildings. They're still going to have to address these issues. It's not going to go away.' Election results will be certified at the March 6 Sedgwick County canvass. Contributing: Michael Stavola of The Wichita Eagle
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Woolpert Welcomes Head of Strategic Growth, Asia-Pacific Susie Henderson
The accomplished global business executive will oversee the firm's strategic growth initiatives for the Asia-Pacific region. BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Woolpert has hired Susie Henderson as Head of Strategic Growth, Asia-Pacific to lead its growth initiatives in the region. Henderson brings over 25 years of expertise and leadership to Woolpert, with global experience spanning the architecture, engineering, infrastructure, energy, and natural resources industries. Having held senior executive positions across the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K., Henderson has played pivotal roles in global infrastructure and A&E consulting professional services firms. She brings extensive expertise in organic growth, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. Recognized as a business builder and growth-oriented executive, Henderson was named one of Houston's Top 50 Most Influential Women Leaders in 2023. Her ability to cultivate high-impact strategies and deliver exceptional outcomes for clients, teams, and investors aligns with Woolpert's ambitious vision. Woolpert has provided geospatial services in the Asia-Pacific region since 2021, after acquiring Australia-based AAM, and architecture services since 2024, after acquiring Sydney-based Greenbox Architecture. The architecture, engineering, and geospatial services firm has multiple offices in the Asia-Pacific region including Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, as well as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Henderson said she looks forward to building on this foundation. "The opportunity to enhance the connectivity of our global offerings, combined with a strong drive for growth, will create outstanding results for our clients and employees," Henderson said. "Building on an already exceptional foundation to achieve greater success is truly exciting. Engaging projects, continuous learning, and collaborating with top-tier talent make for a winning formula." Henderson will split her time between Woolpert's Brisbane, Australia, and Houston, Texas, offices. In addition to her new role, she serves as an independent board director for Evolve Power Limited, a renewable energy company based in Alberta, Canada, and chairs its Nominations Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Central Queensland University and has completed the CPA and AICD board programs. CEO and President Neil Churman lauded Henderson's extensive board experience across ports, rail, mining, renewable energy, and financial services, and said she will be a driving force in Woolpert's continued success in the Asia-Pacific region. "Susie brings world-class strategic and business acumen, coupled with a leadership style that rallies teammates and stakeholders to mutual success. With all our core business sectors—buildings, infrastructure, and geospatial—now represented in the APAC region, we look forward to the collaboration and growth Susie will bring. We are thrilled to bring a global industry leader like Susie to our team." About WoolpertWoolpert is the premier architecture, engineering, and geospatial (AEG) firm, with a vision to become one of the best companies in the world. We innovate within and across markets to effectively serve public, private, and government clients worldwide. Woolpert is a Top 50 ENR Global Design firm, a Global Top 100 Geospatial Company, has earned eight Great Place to Work certifications, and actively nurtures a culture of growth, inclusion, diversity, and respect. Founded in 1911 in Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert has been America's fastest-growing AEG firm since 2015. Woolpert has over 2,700 employees and more than 60 offices on five continents. For more, visit Media ContactLynn View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Woolpert
